Chapter 3: Going Too Far

In the blink of an eye, the day arrived for Ziling's marriage.

During these four days, Ziling didn't even know which way the gates of the Duke of Dongling's residence opened. It wasn't that she didn't want to go out; she simply couldn't.

The Iron Guard of the Duke of Zhenguofu remained stationed, surrounding the Duke of Dongling's residence and allowing no one to pass. Compared to before, they now permitted people to enter and exit, but Ziling was certainly not included in that group.

As someone about to get married, Ziling didn't dare to confront them directly. What if the people from Zhenguofu said to keep a close eye on her, lest the future young mistress run off to snatch men from the streets? How could she maintain a smile in such a situation?

Furthermore, Duke Dongling and the Tang family were busy preparing dowry items for her. Ziling couldn't bear to let them worry about her anymore. With only four days left, she would soon get through it.

Although it was rushed, all the customary rituals for the wedding were observed. The emperor revoked the decree of the imperial marriage and bestowed the phoenix crown and red wedding attire.

The heavy phoenix crown had yet to leave the Duke of Dongling's residence, but Ziling's neck was already sore. Not to mention being jostled in the bridal sedan chair, her vision blurry, and being hit by rotten eggs, which made her feel nauseous without being able to vomit.

Ziling simply used a silver needle to make herself faint and collapsed inside the bridal sedan chair, shutting out everything around her.

However, the consequence of fainting was that when the bridal sedan chair arrived at Zhenguofu, there was a cacophony of suona horns and firecrackers. The joyous matron shouted "Get off the sedan chair!" three times, but Ziling was oblivious.

The matron lifted the sedan curtain and saw her slumped against the side, the decorative headdress falling to the ground. Startled, she thought Ziling was in despair and had attempted something drastic. She cautiously checked her breathing, finding it steady, realizing that she was just asleep.

The matron's mouth twitched. This girl who came down from the mountains was indeed different. Marrying the young master of Zhenguofu, who was on the verge of death, she could still sleep so soundly in the bridal sedan chair. She had to admire her resilience.

The matron cleared her throat lightly, and Qianqian quickly shook Ziling awake, saying, "Miss, it's time to get off the sedan chair."

Ziling was still in a daze, her sleepy eyes half-opened. She yawned and stepped on the headdress as she walked out. Seeing the shoe prints on the bright red headdress, the matron's mouth almost twitched uncontrollably. This bride really had no sense of etiquette. Well, what could one expect from someone who came down from the mountains? She quickly picked up the headdress and patted it, covering Ziling's head.

Ziling was truly disoriented. The laughter and whispering around her brought her back to her senses. Assisted by the matron, she entered the residence of Zhenguofu, moving forward to the main hall for the ceremony.

Qianqian continued to support Ziling and whispered indignantly, "Miss, Zhenguofu has gone too far with their mistreatment!"

Ziling covered her head, her eyes reddened. She had no idea why the Marquis Manor had treated her so poorly. It seemed like there was no difference between this marriage and any ordinary one, except that the Marquis Manor's young master was absent. It was she who had caused him to be unconscious, so she couldn't expect much.

Just as Ziling was about to inquire, she heard the crowing of a rooster, and her face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

This was beyond outrageous!

If the Marquis Manor's young master couldn't come out to the ceremony, she didn't mind. But there was no need to replace him with a rooster!

Was the esteemed Marquis Manor only left with the young master? Was there no other young master?!

She endured.

Ziling endured until the officiator called out for the couple to bow to each other and be escorted to the bridal chamber. Ziling didn't leave; she simply spoke softly, "Give me the rooster."

Qianqian tugged at her sleeve, urging her not to act recklessly.

The servant holding the rooster was a little confused, looking towards the high seat where the Marquis Manor's lady, Princess Nanting, was seated. Princess Nanting waved her hand, indicating that it was fine to give the rooster to Ziling.

The servant handed the rooster to Ziling, who carefully took it in her arms. She openly caressed the rooster, her touch gentle to the point of being unsettling. Although everyone's hearts trembled, fearing that Ziling's gentle touch might lead to a bloody spectacle.

Bandits were indeed incredibly ruthless.

Just as Ziling turned around, the rooster struggled fiercely and flew forward, heading straight for Princess Nanting seated at the head. She screamed in fright, causing chaos in the main hall as a group of people rushed forward to catch the rooster, with feathers scattering all over the place.

Taking advantage of the commotion, the wedding matron hurriedly escorted Ziling to the bridal chamber. Ziling stifled her laughter along the way. Once they entered the room and all the maidservants withdrew, Qianqian couldn't hold back and asked, "Miss, why did you play such a trick?"

Princess Nanzhang's gaze could kill. Before leaving, the Marquis and his wife had said that if she encountered any grievances, she should inform them. They advised her not to confront it head-on since she had to lower her head when living under someone else's roof. A wise person knows the times and adapts accordingly. Seeking revenge as a bandit could wait for three years.

Ziling lifted the veil off her face and removed the phoenix crown, saying, "I just wanted to let them know that although I come from a bandit background, I am not powerless."

Qianqian silently glanced at the man lying unconscious on the bed. Miss had publicly tied up Young Master earlier. Now, if she said she couldn't catch a chicken, would anyone believe her?

Ziling loosened her collar and walked towards the bed. After waiting for so many days, she finally had the chance to see with her own eyes what the Marquis Manor's young master, who was described as extraordinary by the maidservants, looked like. But upon seeing him in person, besides being amazed, Ziling found herself at a loss for words. She racked her brains but couldn't find words to describe him—dragon-like and phoenix-mannered, naturally gifted, radiant like the sun and moon, solemn like the sound of waves in a pine forest—none of these descriptions did him justice.

He was undoubtedly a mesmerizing demon.

Qianqian stood aside, her eyes rippling with regret. She said, "Miss, he still hasn't woken up. Could it be that the wedding night charm didn't work?"

Ziling chuckled, knowing that the purpose of the wedding night charm was never to save the young master of Zhenguo Mansion but to restore the lost face of the Zhenguo Mansion, letting people know that it wasn't so easily bullied. It was also a way for her to experience the consequences of her own actions.

Saving people was the job of a doctor, not hers.

Ziling sat by the bedside, reached out to open the man's eyelids and took his pulse. Qianqian watched, bewildered by what Miss was doing.

As Ziling continued to take his pulse, her brows furrowed deeper. She let go of his hand and said, "Help him undress."

Qianqian blushed and shyly said, "Miss, are you... are you planning to take advantage of the young master while he's still alive? I... I can't assist with such a thing."

Before Qianqian could finish her sentence, she received a slap on her forehead. "What nonsense are you thinking? I'm not that desperate."

Qianqian exclaimed, "Then why are you undressing him?"

"To save him!"

"Miss, please don't save the young master to death."

With Ziling's impatient temper, by the time she finished speaking, she had already undressed him. Seeing Ziling acting earnestly, Qianqian quickly helped. In a few moments, they had stripped the young master of Zhenguo Mansion.

Just as they finished, someone knocked on the door. Ziling hurriedly pulled the blanket over the man and said, "Come in."

Ziling thought that covering Gu Yunfeng would solve everything, but she forgot that the wedding clothes they had removed were still on the small table.

The maidservant caught sight of them at a glance and froze on the spot. Gradually, her face turned as red as blood.

Ziling glanced back and curled her lips. There was no need to explain. She was surely misunderstood, thinking that she was being impatient to consummate the marriage.

Misunderstandings were fine. As a notorious female bandit, her reputation was already distant from the concept of modesty. Calmly, Ziling asked, "Is there something you need?"

The maidservant shook her head repeatedly and said, "No, nothing..."

Poor young master. The Zhenguo Mansion's wedding night was meant to save him, but now it seemed like he had been thrown into the tiger's den. Who knew if he could survive tonight under the torment of his stepmother, the young madam.